Locking device for steering-wheels.



M. F. GRIMM.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR STEERING WHEELS,

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY30 mt.

1 ,26.6,935. Patented May 21, 1918.

Slum! [m Grimm.

111x 1', G'IIIHI, or sun Aitroino, rnxiis.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR STEERIHG-WHEEIB.

Specification at Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed July 80, 1917. Serial No. 188,674.

To (in whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mex F. Gnmu a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and iiseful Im rovement in Lock-in Devices for Steeringeels, of which the ollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to an attachment for motor vehicles, and has more particular reference to a locking device for the steering wheels of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which is of sim le construction; which is whollg detachab e from the steering column an the steering wheel; which may be uickly applied to the steering wheel and t e steering column; and a device which securely holds the steering wheel from turning on the steerin column.

The'invention -further aims at the rovision of a device of this character whic may be made from sheet metal, which comprises but substantially two arts, and which is adapted to receive a pa ock of any suitable construction so that locks of various types may be used as desired.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described, and in art understood, from the followin detailed description of the prescut pro erred embodiment, the, same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fi ure 1 is a perspective view of a locking if out invention and as applied to a steering wheel and the column thereof.

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the locking device.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the locking device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the locking levice, the dotted mes disclosing a steering olumn arranged within the same.

Referring to this drawing, A designates steering column of the usual type, and

"hich is preferably elliptical in cross-secion as shown to advantage in Fi 4. Aranged in the usual manner on t e upper ad of the steering column A is the steerig wheel B, the atter having a hub porevice constructed according to the prestion and radiating arms D. The 'steerin column A is provided on its upper end with a collar or annular shoulder E, in the usual manner.

The locking device comprises a link member adapted to engage the steering wheel B,

and a stop member adapted to secure the lower end of the link to the steering colmen A.

The link member com rises a strap or fiat bar IQ-havin a relativel long wide slot 11 in one end thereof, the pper end, the slot openin 11 opening throu h one edge of the bar y the provision o a transverse passage or opening 12 formed transversely in the bar at one side of the slot 11. The passage or opening 12 is preferably formed adjacent to the inner or lower end of the slot 11 and is of a width suflicient only to receive one of the steering wheel arms D ed ewise therethrough. The slot 11 is of su cient width to receive the steering arms D upwardly through the slot so that the upper end of the bar or link may be suspended u on the arms. The lower end of the bar 10 is cut laterally at a slight angle to provide an attaching shank 13 which, when the device is in position, is adapted to engage beneath the hub C and approach the lower edge of the collar or shoulder E. The lower end of the shank 13 is provided with a strap portion 14 which extends transversely across the lower end of the shank 13, and which is bent into a plane substantially in pIarallelisin with the plane of the bar 10. he 0 osite ends of the strap portion 14 exten 0nd the lateral edges of the shank 13, an'd one end of the strap portion 14 is forked and rolled over to provide a air of hinge eyes 15 through which a pint e 16 engages. The op osite end of the strap portion 14 is provider? with a slot or openin 17 which preferably extends longitudina ly in the said end portion of the strap. The stra portion 14, andthe lower end of the shan 13, are arched outwardly to conform to the side of the steering column A, as shown in Fig. 4, and the strap 14 is adapted to lie flat against said side.

The strap member of the device comprises a length of preferably sheet metal which is provided upon one end with a laterally reduced and lengthwise extending tongue which is overturned to form a bin e eye 19 adapted to engage the pintle 16 an support the strap member 18. The strap member 18 is arched or bowed outwardl in opposite directions to that in which t e stra portion 14 is arched, and is adapted to ie flat against the opposite side of the steering column A. The free end portion of the member 18 is laterally reduced and rolled over to form a staple 20 through which a padlock 21, of any adaptable type, is adapted to be secured. The staple '20 registers with the slot 17 and is adapted to project therethrough rior to the securement of the padlock 21 t ereto.

The bar 10, and the shank 13, when combined, are of a length sullicient to retain the strap members 14 and 18 immediately beneath the collar E when the device is applied, and the upper edges of the strap portions 14 and 18 are adapted to abut the shoulder E and hold the clamping element from moving upwardly on the steering column A. The clamping element registers beneath the shoulder E only when the arm D of the steering wheel is engaged in the upper closed end of the slot 11, and the clamp ing element is adapted to hold the link member from moving upwardly, and to retain the link member in such position that the lateral slot or opening'12 in the link is at all times held below the plane of the arm D.

To apply the device to the steering wheel B and column A, it is only i'ieccssary to first insert the link member between a pair of the arms D and to raise the link member into a position to register the opening 1; with the edge of one of the arms 1). The link is now moved into position to engage thc'arms through the opening I) and into the slot 11. The link 10 is now permitted to fall and the arm D moves into the upper end of the slot 11. The clamping element, comprising the strap members 14 and 18, is now secured upon the steering column A. aml owing to the elliptical formation of the steering column A, the clamping element is held from turning thereon. A padlock of any suitable construction, such as indicated at it. is secured through the staple 20 after the latter has been inserted through the opening IT. The padlock thus holds the straps ll and 19 from separation. Any tendency to turn the. steering wheel ll, when the locking device is applied thereto, moves the link to a slight extent and clamps the clamping clcnu-nt upon the steering column A. This action binds the clamping element on the steering column and insures the retention of the steering wheel from rotation.

To release the lock from the steering wheel. it is only necessary to remove the padlock ill and swing the straps H and 1S apart. The link 10 may now be raised snlliciently to register the slot or opening l2 with the inclosed arms, and by a slight lateral movement of the link the same may be dis engaged from the steering wheel.

t is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction of the above specifically described locking device for steering wheels to adapt the same for application to motor vehicles of various types, such changes and modifications being fully contemplated in the spirit of this invention, and being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A steering wheel lock comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws adapted to embrace a steering column, one jaw having an upstanding hook with a downwardly extend.- ing bill adapted to engage over an arm of the steering wheel, and means for detachably locking the jaws to the steering column to hold the jaws from circumferential and upward movement upon the steering column.

2. In a locking device for steering wheels. the combination of a link having in one end a. longitudinal slot opening near its inner extremity through one edge of the link and adapted to receive an arm of the steering wheel through the opening and into the slot. and a clamping element on the lower end of the link adapted to engage a steering column and hold the arm in the upper end of the slot.

3. In a locking device for steering wheels, the combination of a link having an opening in one end and adapted to be hooked over an arm of a. steering wheel, a pair of hinged strap members mounted on the lower end of the link and adapted to embrace a steering column. one of said strap members having a slot in its free end and the opposite member having a staple in its free end adapted to enter the slot, and a locking device adapted to engage. through the staple to hold the strap members about the steering column.

4. In a locking device for steering wheels. the combination of a link having in one end a longitudinal slot opening between its ends through one edge of the link and adapted to be hooked over an arm of a steering wheel. said link provided upon its opposite end with an arcuate strap member adapted to bear against one side of a steering column, a second strap member hinged at one end to oiie extremity of said first stra member. and means for locking the free ends oi the strap members together about the steering column for holding the link from rising upon said arm. I i

5. In a locking device for steering wheels. the combination with a, sl-tlering column elliptical in cross-section and provided with a collar at its upper end :ud a steering wheel mounted on the steek'itig column and provided with radiating art is, ofalink having an opening in one end adapted to be hooked over one of the arms of said steering wheel and provided upon saiil. end with a strap member adapted to engage against one of the relatively flat sides of the steering eelumn beneath said collar, :1 second strap mem ber adapted to engage against the oppnsite side of the steering column beneath the collar, and means for locking said strap members together about ihe steering column and beneath the collar to retain the link from turning on the steering column and from upward displzu'enlent from the arm.

MAX F. GRIMM. 

